Kirdford & Wisborough Green

Kirdford and Wisborough Green are two quintessential English villages situated in the heart of the the West Sussex countryside. First settlements in these villages date back over 500 years and the two villages continue to thrive with an eclectic way of life. There are over 1,200 people who live in the villages and there are two well attended churches, a primary school, a mix of various pubs and restaurants. A number of houses are listed as they hold historical interest of the UK's history. Close by is the market town of Petworth.

Behind the scenes there are a mix of local businesses that serve the local communities and contribute towards the UK society as a whole.

This way of life is now under under threat with a proposed drilling site to explore for shale gas and oil. Kirdford and Wisborough is one of over 300 sites in the south of England that has been earmarked as a proposed drilling site. As a result, Celtique Energie want to drill right in the middle of these connecting villages on a site which we strongly believe is not suitable but highly inappropriate to the area.

The lane which Celtique will need to utilise for transportation is a country lane, and in places can only accommodate the width of one vehicle. If their planning application is given the go ahead it will mean this area of West Sussex will change beyond recognition.

The residents of Kirdford and Wisborough Green are concerned that this idyllic location will be spoiled by a dirty industry which risks polluting our peace, our land, our water, our light and our air.

We seek to protect the interests of the community who rely on the many rural activities in the immediate vicinity of the proposed site and the diverse wildlife we are fortunate enough to enjoy. Local businesses under threat include the rearing of dairy cattle and top class thoroughbred bloodstock. Other activities under threat include honey production, equestrian training, pubs and restaurants.

Frack Free Sussex

Government plans to allow fracking for gas and oil across the Sussex Weald. To be economically viable this would require thousands of wells to be drilled across our county. Our downland, meadowland, farmland and woodland would be subject to wide-scale industrialisation.

In the USA, towns near fracking sites have seen cancer rates rising, water supplies running out and the poisoning of land, livestock, pets and people by hazardous air pollutants. Water that was once pristine is now so contaminated with methane that it can be set alight. Industry studies show 5-7% of all new oil and gas wells leak and ALL wells will leak eventually.

Our water supply, which comes predominantly from the chalk aquifer, would be threatened.

Property values are falling in areas near drilling sites.

Even the energy secretary says fracking WON’T REDUCE ENERGY BILLS.

donations welcome

Frack Free SussexSort code: 08-92-99Account: 65733697

The campaign to keep Sussex a healthy and happy place for all of us to live is reliant on all of us! We are not a political organisation and nobody involved gets paid - we do it because we care. Here are the sort of awareness raising activities that your donation could help to pay for:

Posters, information leaflets, flyering

Organising screenings of films such as The Bentley Effect and PowerTrip

Organising public meetings and talks with knowledgeable guest speakers (get in touch)

Web hosting for this website

Getting the Frack Free Sussex information stand to festivals and community events

Advertising to local press

YOU CAN ALSO DONATE YOUR time and ENERGY!

The campaign to prevent fracking and any forms of unconventional drilling ruining our county is made up of an ever growing number of people LIKE YOU! We are fighting against multi-national corporations with millions of pounds to spend on PR so we need you, whatever your skills and expertise.